Fairtrade Town

Bicester has been a Fairtrade Town since 2010, when it became the UK’s 500th Fairtrade Town after the Town Council, schools, businesses churches and other organisations signed up to support the movement.

Fairtrade Town status is awarded in recognition of the town’s efforts to promote ethically-sourced products which pay farmers and workers in the developing world a fair price for their produce.

In order to get the accolade, the organisations across the town had to come together to fulfil five requirements; including the Town Council passing a resolution to support Fairtrade and use Fairtrade products for meetings held at The Garth, local shops must stock products; and businesses, schools and other organisations across the town had to agree to use and promote Fairtrade products.

A local steering group was also set up to continue to promote the benefits of using Fairtrade products, and the group, called Bicester Fairtrade, is still going strong today. Its members include individuals, churches and representatives from the Town Council.

The Group attends town events, such as The Big Lunch and keeps tabs on where and which Fairtrade products are available in Bicester. Previous events have included an afternoon tea in the Methodist Church Hall in 2019 which raised £100 for the Traidcraft Exchange.

Cllr Lynn Pratt, who previously represents the Town Council on the Fairtrade Group, Said: “We as a town should do all we can to promote Fairtrade products and encourage as many organisations to use them.

“The importance of Fairtrade is that it ensures fair prices for farmers and a living wage for workers in developing countries. Ultimately, it brings the farmer and shopper closer together, meaning people are at the heart of trade and therefore benefit directly.

“I would like to encourage Bicester residents to buy and support Fairtrade as much as they can.”

For more information about Fairtrade view https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/